Method and apparatus for interconnecting manifold sets of stationery



June 30, 1942. JENSEN 2,288,360

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERCONNECTING MANIFOLD S ETS OF STATIONERY Filed Jan. 12, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jade/Z507 a; Zozzzis' Jezz'sevzb June 30, 1942. 1 JENSEN 2,288,360

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERCONNECTING MANIFOLD SETS OF STATIONERY Filed Jan. 12, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q1 (1 a w w m m June 30, 1942. JENSEN 2,288,360

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERCONNECTING MANIFOLD SETS 0? STATIONERY Filed Jan. 12, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 L. JENSEN June 30, 1942.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERCONNECTING MANIFOLD SETS OF STATIONERY Filed Jan. 12, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 L. JENSEN June 30, 1942.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERCONNECTING MANIFOLD SETS OF STATIONERY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Wen??? r Zozzz's flizsera Filed Jan. 12, 1939 5 Z ww E Patented June 30,1942

sm-m STAT PA ENT u 72,288,360 I w OFFICE NECTINGMANIFOLD sn'rsoFs'rA'noN- EBY Jensen, Chicago, 111., assignor to UnitedAu tographic Register 00., a corporation of 11- A wartime" 1 2,1939,S er iai No.250,644

- claim (01. 15442)" This invention relates particularly to a method andapparatus for interconnecting. separate sheets or manifold sets of stationery into a com A tinuous strip so thatit may be fed through a typewriter or similar mach n r adily.

The primary object of the invention provide a method whichmayrbe carried out in an automatic machinetb manufacture stationery ofthe type Show in MacFarland Patent No. 2,089,128, issued N- Augustj, 1937. This station: ery comprises aseries of packets of forms pro vided withflinterleaved carbon and having the packets connected'endto end by marginal flaps.

the machine; Figure 4, .abroken sectional view of the left end' of the machine, as viewed in Figure 1; Figure 5, a broken sectional view of the right endof the machine. as viewed in Fi ure ,1 {F gure 6," a broken sectional view, taken as indicated at line 6' of Figure 2; Figure 7, a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale showing the flipper mechanism; Figure 8, a

fragmentary view otthe gearing and drive.

mechanism; and Figure '9, aside elevational view on an enlarged'scale tra'ted, inlFigure 3. e 1

In" the embodiment illustrated, A designates a main frame "provided' with supporting legs A; B, conveyor andalig'ning mechanism which receives the separate manifold sets; C, punch a front elevational view of a ma- 24 which drives the presser-members H by means of bevel gears 25 and 26 Gear 28, is provided f of the stationery illusingmechanism which may beprovided to per forate the top marginal portion of the stationcry; D} a gluing device for applying a strip of manifold set; E, an endless belt conveyor which adhesive-"to the top marginal 'portionpf the receives the manifold sets from the conveyor B; Fjan endless belt conveyor provided with feed pinswhich is'assisted by shorter conveyor belts F in removingthe sets seriatim from the conveyor E; G, flipper for bringing the ends of the sets in proper overlapped condition; and

H, presser mechanism for compressing the adj hesively joined portions of the sets.

The frame A maybe'of any suitable construction and preferably is a metal bed inwhich the a mechanism is mounted. The bed is supported" on suitable standards A. Asrshownr in Figure- 1, an electricmotor "I, through a suitable-reduction gear drive drives a belt ii on a pulley I: provided on amain drive shaft l4.-

As best shown in Figures 2,v 6, and 8, a sprocketchain l5. transmits, power'from the shaft to a shaft I6. Speed reducingidlergears; H a

and I8 drive gear It on a-shaft 20 from a gear |5a on the shaft i6;

The gear I9 drives gear- 2! whichhas a bevel ,7

gear 22 in mesh with a beveigearlii on shaft with a spur gear 21 which drives idler gears 28 and v29 which in turn meshrwith gear 30 provided on a drive shaft 3| for the conveyors F,

and F.

The gear-2| also rdrivesoan idlerlgear 32 which drives a gear 33 on ashaft 34 of the flipper mechanism G. The other end of the shaft 34 is provided with a spur gear 35 which drives a gear 38 on a lower shaft 31 of the flipper mechanism. The gear 33 through an idler.- drives gear 39 onshaft Ill ofthe flipper mech- 1 anism.

As shown in Figure 2, the shaft i6 isipro- 'vided' with a hand wheel lso forconvenince in making timing adjustments on the machine.

As indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 8,

the shaft l6 ispr'ovided with a bevel gear in which meshes with a bevel gear 42 and drives shait 43 of the conveyor E.

As shown in Figure 2, the shaft 20 is provided with gear 44 which meshes'with an idler gear 45 having a bevel gear 46 to drive ,a shaft." of the conveyor 3., e

V The shaft 20 is furtherprovided with a bevel gear 48 which meshes with a bevel gear" and drives the punching or perforating machine C.

Also, a gear 50, through idler gears 50c, drives jack shaft 5| which isDI'QVided with a pulley Sla l to drive a friction cylinder 52 by means of a a belt {1b which passes around pulley 52a.

The conveyor and aligning mechanism B, best shown in Figures 2, 4, and 5, has several com' I ponents. A pair of endless sprocket chains 53 is driven from the shaft 41 by means ofsprocket I 1 Wheels 530; The belts are provided at regularly spaced intervals with headed feed-pins 53b which engage the lateral edge'of a set of manifold stationeryvand carry it transversely with the belt. The rear ends ofthe belts are reefed around an idler sprocket wheel 53c. p

- lightly on The mnniioid sets oi stationery, no will be understood, by reference to Files 3 end 9,, comprise pockets oi ststionery end interleeved cerbon dd. Preierebly the bottom sheet oi the pschet hes n v= nap Edd which in the .w l assembly is posted to the top mersinel portion oi the succeeding pocket. The pockets ore shown provided with rter perioretio bib which be mode in the set beiore it is pieced on the belt 153, but preierebly ore by the f mechnn C, described below. Thme periorotions ere useiul in the t: r operntions oi the present machine end else ere desirnble ior tam purposes other the to hove been used. The dotted lines in Fisure t such in cute lines or weakening in the stationery to incilitnte pulling the forms srt otter use in n type= writer.

A fixed upwnr hr exten t guide-member b5 is provided clone one side or the conveyor belts 5t. Preierebly the cylinder iii is iournelled be= tween the belts 53 so tt its upper iece brushes 1:: the underside oi the sets it end urses them htly against the guide db us they are oved transversely into the machine. adjustable guide mechanis bit is provided above the conveyor end I B to hold the sets in that condition. The guide mec wso. is supported by suitable brnchets 58o end hes n socket bur 58b which loosely sit a m or class spheres 51 so thnt they mey p the sets 56 lightly against cylinder 53 without Em ins the movement of the sets.

e punc mechom C is of known con-= struction. and accordingly is not she in detell. A pair of punching hends moves downwerdly in s 1-: pro in the direction thwt the stn= tionery trsvels so that the punchline is done without interfering with the movement oi the sets.

The gluing mechanism D is nlso oi known construction end is shown soewhst diesrnmmuh icslly in Figures 2 end 5. The plus is pieced in s iount b8 and suitable contest dishs We, driven from the short dl, troit n nerrow strip of adhesive mnteriel to the top msreinsl portion oi the sets, just shove the periorstions 5th. Suitable mechenism is provided to lift the disks bdo during the intervnls thnt the sets ere not in adhesive receiving position.

The conveyor E comprises en endless belt which is disposed near the ends of the belts iii and driven from the shaft 63 by means oi n pulley Etc. The belt posses oround on idler pulley 5th on n shaft 59c and thence under s. tensionins pulley see. A fixed abutment guide db, see Figure 5, is provided to limit the trensverse travel of the sets 5d. The conveyor is is geared to travel at is considerably faster rate than the belts bit so that when the sets are psrtiolly projected over e tnble ti into contnct with the conveyor E. their trnvel is accelerated so that they are drawn clenr of the heeded pins this on the conveyor belts lid and are thrown rather sharply egsinst the guide bill. The continued light brushing edect of the conveyor E on the bottom of the forms holds one leterel edge of the sets in proper alignment against the guide tt. Above the conveyor E nre provided suitnble guide-members 62 and to keep the sets fist and in light contact with the conveyor.

As best shown in Figures 2 end 6, the endless link-belt (id of the conveyor F is driven by n sprocket wheel $5 on the shnft 8i end its renr dill 00b. The belt is provided with iced-pins tit which ere ednpted to ensure the periorntions bin in the sets us they ore delivered into position serintim by the conveyor E.

It will be noted thnt the conveyor F is disposed at right nngles to the conveyors h end E end extends beneath the conveyor belt it. h c wheel bl is provided on the shaft to to oscillate n roclr erm tit which is pivoted st fits and urged downwnrdly by e tension spring tdb. The sour end or the rock orm dd is provided with e shoe 69 which is tz ted, when permitted to swine down by the com ti, to depress the top rsinol portions of the sets and press the perforations bib over the pins be. As will be unders, the sheit it rotates in timed relation to the movement of the belt F so thst the separate sets are picked up seriet in as continuous overlopp series the conveyor F. The plus it pro spaced on the chain til so that there is just room for the troll p bio of the sdvnnced set oi to to lie flatly esninst the belt end cleer the next set of pins. Thus it will be understood that the top marginal portion oi the next set oi dorms initiy overlap the trolling flop oi the preceding set or to i' and the esed adhesive suriuce is not in contact with the flop.

After the sets travel over the flipper mecha (32, described below, they are brought into contact with s poir oi endless conveyors r". disposed on the do. oi the chain conveyor F. These belts ere ven by pulleys it on the shnit 3i, passing around reer idler pulleys ii on o. shalt lie, sud ere held tsut by tensionins pulleys lib.

The flipper mechanism G will best be under-=- stood by reference to Figures 2, 6, and 7. As was mentioned ebove, the tro i lisp tie is initially below the top marginal portion of the succeedme set oi terms end the purpose of the flipper mechenism is to lift up the flop and bring its lower ince into contact with the edhesive on the portion of the following set oi "i I operntion is sccomplished while the sets are moving continuously and is done by arms srrnnged on the shafts to, ti, and lit which rotnte in timed relation to the conveyor s. it psir oi nrms it is ustably mounted on the short so we to rotnte downwardly and prevent the front portion of the preceding set from being disturbed during the flipping operation. Another pair of n is is mounted on the shell; ill so as to rotete upwardly end etc the rear portion or the set upwardly so that the hop bid will be drown out from under the top mnrginnl portion of the following set end then be brought into edhesive contact with the edhesive strip. Another o. it is curried by the rotating shsft til so as to swing down nnd prevent the front of the succeeding set from being displaced from the pins during the flipping operntion. A pair of yielding guide-fingers it is provided on s crossshnit it to smooth out the linked strip so it moves onto the auxiliary conveyors F.

The linlred strip of sets finally posses under the presser members H, see Figures 1, 2, and 6. only three of the double noting members are shown for the purpose of illustration, although any desired number may be used. Normally five sets ere desirable to produce the best re sults. As the pressers are all of similar construction end ere driven from the short it by menus of the bevel seer-s iii, 25, end it, only one will be described. Each of the members has a. squnre shaft ll! which is driven in timed relation end passes nround idler sprocket Gila on is theft to the conveyor F. Two cross-burs iii ore mountaaaaseo set to'which it 'is connected.

The operation of the machine is briefly as fol-- lows: the sets of manifold stationary are placed on the conveyor B and moved transversely under the punching device C and the gluing device I): thesetsarethen ontotheconveyor!, accelerated in movement, and thrown against the guide II; the direction of travel is then changed from transverse to forward by the shoe I pressing the ends of the sets seriatim into engagement with the forwardly moving pins; as the overlapped forms advance, the flipper mechanism strikes the ,flap of thepreceding forms up into superposed engagement with the adhesive strip on the succeeding forms and'the pasted joint iscompressed by the presser members H; and the strip is then delivered from the machine by the conveyors F and F where it may be stored in rolls or zigzag folded, as desired.

The foregoing detailed description m been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but' the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

' I claim:

1. The method of interconnecting manifold,

sets of stationery sheets into tandem relation, which comprises: moving the sets seriatim into longitudinal spaced relation with the rear marginal portion of one of the sheets in an advanced set of forms lapping a front marginal portion of a sheet in the next succeeding set of forms; and connecting the overlapping sheets, while the sets are continuously advancing forwardly.

tially and aligning the sets in longitudinal relation-with respect to said perforations, seriatim; and connecting the overlapped portion of one of the sheets in the advanced set to the front marginal portion of the next succeeding set.

5. A method as specifled in claim 4, including the steps of applying adhesive to the front marginal portion of the sets, above the perforations,

' while they are moving transversely; and pressing set of forms; and connecting the overlapping sheets, while the sets are continuously advancing forwardly.

3. The method of interconnecting ,manifold sets of stationery sheets into tandem relation, which comprises: moving the sets transversely and applying adhesive to the front marginal portion of the sets, seriatim; ,bringing the sets into longitudinal spaced relation seriatim with the rear marginal portion of one of the sheets in an advanced set of forms underlying the front marginal portion of the next succeeding set of forms;- lifting the underlying rear marginal portion of said sheet in the advanced set of forms from underlying to overlapping position; and pressing the overlapped portion of the sheet against the adhesive.

4. The method of interconnecting into tandem relation manifold sets of stationery sheets having front marginal perforations, which comprises: aligning the front edge portions of the sets while moving them transversely; changing the direction of movement and overlapping parthe overlapped portion of the advanced sheet against said adhesive while the sets are advancing forwardly.

6. Apparatus for linking manifold sets of sheets, comprising: conveyor-means for moving the separate sets transversely; a conveyor angular-1y disposed to-the conveyor-means and operating in timed relation thereto to receive the sets singly seriatim from said conveyor-means and advance them in partially overlapped longitudinally spaced relation; and means for con- 8. Apparatus for linking manifold sets of sheets, comprising: an endless belt conveyor for moving the separate sets transversely; a second conveyor disposed at the delivery end of said first conveyor, and operating at a greater speed in timed relation thereto, so as to receive the sets and accelerate their transverse movement; I

a fixed guide disposed beyond the delivery end of said second conveyor for limiting the transverse movement of said sets; a third conveyor disposed at a right angle to the first mentioned conveyors and driven in timed relation thereto; and means for withdrawing the sets seriatim from the second conveyor onto the third conveyor in overlapped, longitudinally aligned, spaced relatidn.

9. Apparatus as specified in claim 8, including means for flipping the rear marginal portion of an advanced set over the front marginal portion of a succeeding set, as the sets are advanced longitudinally on the third conveyor.

10. Apparatus as specified in claim 8, including means for flipping the rear marginal portion of an advanced set over the front marginal portion of a succeeding set, as the sets are advanced longitudinally on the third conveyor; and means for pasting together the overlapped marginal portions of the sets.

11. Apparatus as specified in claim 8, in which the means for withdrawing the sets from the second, conveyor comprises pins mounted on the third conveyor, and a presser device-to engage perforations in the sets with said pins.

12. In a machine for linking manifold sets of stationery: an endless belt conveyor provided with means for receiving and carrying manifold sets in longitudinally spaced relation with the rear marginal portion of one set underlying the front marginal portion of the next succeeding set; and means operating through said conveyor and in timed relation thereto for flipping the rear end of the advanced set over the front marginal end of the succeeding set while the sets are being advanced on said conveyor.

13. A device as specifled in claim 12, in which the flipping nieam includes an arm rotating in timed relation to the movement of the conveyor so as to strike the underside of the rear portion of the advanced set and press it upwardly.

it. A device as. specified in claim 12, in which the flipping. means include an arm rotating in timed relation to the movement ofthe conveyor so as to strilsethe underside of the rear portion of the advanced set and press it upwardly, and

sheets, comprising: conveyor-means for moving perforated separate manifold sets transversely; means for applying adhesive material to the front marginal portion of the sets as they move transversely; an endless belt conveyor disposed at a right angle and driven in timed relation to said conveyor-means so as to receive the sets,

said helt being equipped at regularly spaced intervals with feed-pins to engage the perforaaaeaaeo start their forward movement with the front marginal portion of each set initially overlapping the rear marginal portion of the preceding set; means for flipping the rear marginal portion of the prose set to superposed position in contact with the adhesive on the following set; and means for pressing the adhesive Joints as the connected sets advance on said belt conveyor.

16. Apparatus as specified in claim 15, in which the means for pressing the adhesive joints comprises a plurality of bar-like members which are rotated in ed. relation to the belt conveyor. 7

17. Apparatus as specified in claim 15, in which the means for pressing the adhesive joints comprises a plurality of bar-like members which are rotated in timed relation to the belt conveyor, said bars being mounted in opposed pairs and yieldingly urged outwardly by means of compression springs.

more JENSEN. 

